Continuing to add local partners to its war chest, the McNeese State Athletic Department signed another large one.

Thursday, McNeese announced a strategic corporate partnership with Lake Charles Memorial Health System worth $2.5 million over three years. It is one of the largest partnerships in the McNeese Athletic Department’s history.

Devon Hyde, President & CEO of Lake Charles Memorial Health System, and McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer released the announcement in a press release. 

“This is huge,” said Schroyer. “The monetary value is one thing, but what they can provide, the care and services they can provide our athletes and university will be second to none.

“I am very proud to have been able to partner with Memorial Health.”

The deal came at the end of McNeese’s contract with Ochsner Health System, which will still have a clinic on campus.

“As the area’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare system, we look forward to continuing our tradition of providing quality healthcare close to home, and there’s nothing that feels more like home to SWLA than McNeese State University,” Hyde said. “This exclusive agreement and partnership gives us the opportunity to create a positive, healthy, athletic experience for the student-athletes while promoting health and wellness for all.”

The move is the latest in a game of financial chess played by Schroyer, who is trying to keep McNeese ahead of the ever-changing and costly new world of college athletics.

“You have to find these types of partnerships where you can,” Schroyer said. “If we are to grow and become the type of athletic department we want to be, we have to take advantage of these types of opportunities.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this partnership with Memorial Health System,” said Schroyer. “Devon and his team have done a tremendous job over the years reestablishing Memorial as the premier health care system in Southwest Louisiana. When Devon and I sat down and talked, he made it very clear this partnership was a priority for him and his team.”

The move comes just a week after Schroyer was named to take over the McNeese Athletic Foundation by new president Dr. Wade Rousse.

“First and foremost, we are extremely excited to start this new partnership with Memorial Health System,” said Hunter Martin, McNeese Associate AD for Sports Medicine. “I’ve always said the student-athlete health and wellness on and off the playing field will always be the Sports Medicine Department’s number one priority. 

“I’m looking forward to expanding our medical care locally for our student-athletes as well as having opportunities for continued learning and growth with all of the local athletic trainers in this community. This partnership shows the continued upward trajectory that McNeese Athletics is on and how much the local community plays such a big role.”

Schroyer has said recently that he is still having conversations for the naming rights to the new press box at Cowboy Stadium, which is on schedule to be partially open this season. It is expected the working area will be complete in time for coaches and media for the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Southern.

Under new NCAA rules, there will be more signage around college stadiums this season, including on the fields. 

No doubt McNeese will be looking into capitalizing on those opportunities as well.